signs of a stroke--sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), sudden severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance;

kidney or liver problems--little or no urinating; swelling, rapid weight gain (especially in your face and midsection); confusion, nausea, vomiting, dark urine, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

severe skin reaction--fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Common side effects may include:

nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite;

dry eyes;

cough, trouble breathing;

rash; or

weakness, tired feeling.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Erlotinib Interactions

Avoid taking an antacid within several hours before or after you take erlotinib. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking other stomach medicines such as cimetidine (Tagamet) or ranitidine (Zantac).

Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Erlotinib can cause skin rash, dryness, or other irritation. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.

Avoid using skin products that can cause dryness or irritation, such as acne medications, harsh soaps or skin cleansers, or skin products that contain alcohol.

Avoid smoking. It can make erlotinib less effective.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with erlotinib and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products while taking erlotinib.

Avoid taking an herbal supplement containing St. John's wort at the same time you are taking erlotinib.

This medicine can pass into body fluids (including urine, feces, vomit, semen, vaginal fluid). Patients and caregivers should wear rubber gloves while cleaning up body fluids, handling contaminated trash or laundry or changing diapers. Wash hands before and after removing gloves. Wash soiled clothing and linens separately from other laundry.

Body fluids should not be handled by a woman who is pregnant or who may become pregnant. Use condoms during sexual activity to avoid exposure to body fluids.

Many drugs can interact with erlotinib. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide. Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with erlotinib. Give a list of all your medicines to any healthcare provider who treats you.

Erlotinib Dosage

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Take erlotinib on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating.

You may need frequent medical tests to be sure this medicine is not causing harmful effects. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results of these tests.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include severe diarrhea or severe skin rash.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember (take only on an empty stomach). Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Copyright 1996-2015 Cerner Multum, Inc.

Latest Update: 3/18/2015, Version: 6.02

Erlotinib Pictures

Tarceva 100 mg, white, round, film coated

Erlotinib FAQ

Q: Is erlotinib an experimental drug?

A: I believe you are talking about the medication Tarceva (erlotinib) for the treatment of lung cancer. This medication was approved in 2004 so it is no longer experimental but used in the marketplace.

Q: What is the cost of Tarceva?

A: Tarceva (erlotinib) is in a drug class called kinase inhibitors. Tarceva is used as the single therapy to treat non-small cell lung cancer that has spread to surrounding tissues or other parts of the body in people whose cancer has not responded (improved) with at least one regimen of chemotherapy. Tarceva is also used in combination with Gemzar (gemcitabine) as first-line therapy to treat pancreatic cancer that has spread to surrounding tissues, cannot be surgical removed, or has spread to other parts of the body. Tarceva slows or stops the spread of cancer cells by blocking the action of an irregular protein that prompts cancer cells to multiply. The price of Tarceva can vary depending on the wholesaler and pharmacy from which the medication is acquired. Pharmacies sell medication to consumers at a price that includes the cost for acquiring the drug from the wholesaler, plus a retail markup. If a third-party payer (for example, a health insurance company or Medicare) is providing coverage for Tarceva, they determine the final cost of the product. Costs will vary from one plan to another, and the payer may cover or reimburse part or all of the cost. Some pharmaceutical companies have patient assistance programs for people having difficulty affording their medications. Specific information about these individual programs can often be obtained by visiting the drug maker's website. In addition, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and its member companies sponsor an interactive website with information about drug assistance programs. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance helps people (who qualify) without prescription medication coverage obtain needed medications for free or almost free. People can find more information by visiting http://www.pparx.org/. Derek Dore, PharmD

Q: What are the side effects of Tarceva?

A: Tarceva (erlotinib) is a once-daily cancer medication that interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their spread in the body. It is used to treat non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer. Common side effects of Tarceva include stomach upset, nausea, diarrhea, weight loss, acne, dry skin, and tiredness. More serious side effects are possible with Tarceva and may include lung problems, liver and/or kidney problems, a hole developing in the lining of the stomach or intestines, serious skin conditions, and eye irritation and damage to the cornea.
Stop taking erlotinib and contact your doctor right away if you have new or worsening lung problems (chest pain, dry cough with fever, wheezing, feeling short of breath), chest pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, sudden numbness or weakness, eye pain or irritation, rapid weight gain, urinating less than usual or not at all, severe or ongoing diarrhea or vomiting, coughing up blood, black or bloody stools, pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, mouth sores, or a severe skin rash. This is not a complete list of the side effects associated with Tarceva. Sarah Lewis, PharmD

About Drugs A-Z

Drugs A-Z provides drug information from Everyday Health and our partners, as well as ratings from our members, all in one place. Cerner Multum™ provides the data within some of the Basics, Side Effects, Interactions, and Dosage tabs. The information within the Reviews and FAQ tabs is proprietary to Everyday Health.

You can browse Drugs A-Z for a specific prescription or over-the-counter drug or look up drugs based on your specific condition. This information is for educational purposes only, and not meant to provide medical advice, treatment, or diagnosis. Remember to always consult your physician or health care provider before starting, stopping, or altering a treatment or health care regimen.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by on this page is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. The information on this page has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore neither Everyday Health or its licensor warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Neither Everyday Health nor its licensors endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. The drug information above is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Neither Everyday Health nor its licensor assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of the information provided. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have any questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Log in

Enter your Everyday Health log in:

Advertising Notice

This Site and third parties who place advertisements on this Site may collect and use information about
your visits to this Site and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of
interest to you. If you would like to obtain more information about these advertising practices and to make
choices about online behavioral advertising, please click here.

From our Sponsors

Everyday Solutions are created by Everyday Health on behalf of our sponsors. View all.

Connect

Don't miss out on breaking news, live chats, lively debates, and inspiring stories. Join the conversation!

Free Newsletters

Personalized tips and information to get and stay healthier every day. Sign Up Now!